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GOP scrambles to fix its primary problem

Further, top Senate Republicans have made clear to outside groups that they’d like the third parties to not exist simply as entities that air attack ads against Democrats in general elections but to play a more hands-on role in GOP primaries.

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“It’s important for the groups that have been sitting on the sidelines in primaries and ceding the field to groups to be more involved,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “You’ve got certain groups that are very active in primaries, in many cases behind candidates that have had, as we’ve experienced in the last couple of cycles, trouble winning general elections. We’ve got to have support for candidates that can win.”

Translation into non-Senate speak: The big-money establishment Republican super PACs like American Crossroads need to serve as a counterbalance in primaries to conservative outfits such as Club for Growth and former Sen. Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund.

Crossroads, at least, is already preparing to do just that.

While they won’t become entirely invested in the business of incumbent protection — something McConnell has signaled he’d like them to do — they are moving toward a more robust presence in GOP primaries.

That means a thorough and cold-eyed assessment of which Republicans will have the best chance to win general elections

“To be effective, you have to go well before the primary and identify well-qualified candidates using a number of criteria,” said one source familiar with Crossroads’s thinking. “It’s not who’s more or less conservative, but putting together a more discriminating evaluation of candidates.”

In an interview in the Capitol, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the NRSC chairman in the past two elections and now the Senate’s second-ranking Republican, said, “I think you’re going to see more people involved in primaries,” right as he rounded a corner and nearly ran into Crossroads CEO Steven Law.

“Speaking of the devil and he appears,” joked Cornyn. “He said what’s going to happen in the primary process and I said well I think you’re going to see more people get involved. “

“Yeah, that’s right,” said Law, on cue. “More people are going to get involved.”

After Law departed, Cornyn said he was confident it wouldn’t just be Crossroads wading in.

“This is too important to leave to any one organization,” said the Texan. “You’re going to see other super PACs getting involved.”

Readers' Comments (429)

Yes that entire show was embarrassing. Watching an entire group of people act like their brains were missing - rejecting a deal more favorable to them when it was clear and obvious they would only come back later and eat a knuckle sandwich down the road. Only the primary process can explain such obvious stupidity. And the dumb, rabid, knowledge-rejecting, voter base that dominate those primaries. Still nothing though to explain the poor math skills demonstrated in November. "Cant wait for November to come still", anyone?

Republicans don't have a Primary problem but a Position problem. Don't expect them to grasp that any time soon.

Their big tent has long been an exclusive club at the top with poorer, less educated Red State underpinnings which they preach to like carney evangelists and target for support. But alas, the GOP big tent has been forgotten by time.

#6 Jan. 4, 2013 - 6:18 AM EST The problem is in the White House no matter how many times Politico tries to blame Republicans. ----------------------- Old burnt for brains,.. It aint just Politico that is blaming your lot, everyone except you and your foolish retardlicans know the prob aint in the white house

One of the solutions is for the GOP to put their foot down during the primaries regarding debates. Say NO to all debates unless there is an equal amount of debaters asking the questions (liberals vs conservatives). This is what politicians call a "BALANCED APPROACH".

All political parties have been known for their hyperbole. It helps to raise money and votes if one can make the rival candidate seem more something unattractive than is the actual case. All parties at times cross the line and go from a dubious exaggeration to an outright lie -- from 'Obama has an unusual story' to 'Obama is different and strange' to 'Obama is an illegitimate candidate born in Kenya'. The Republican Party institutionalized lying as a cynical Republican political tool and opened a political Pandora's box by doing so. They used the lie to fashion wild character assassinations and looney conspiratorial theories and candidate smears so bizarre that they are unbelievable to most voters. In their use of the lie to demonize opponents and their weak, wink-wink, public disavowals of the lunatic conspiracies or incredible smears, cynical manipulation by the Republican Party has gotten out of control and has come back to bite the party with a vengeance. Now the party establishmentarians are looking for ways to solve their self-created problems.

But is enlisting the aid of super PACs really a good solution? Those PACs already brand Republicans as the party bought and owned by big-monied special interests. All the Republican propagandizing about 'taking our country back' has led the Republican voters to eschew heavy-handed party manipulations of elections, be they primaries or general elections, national or local elections.

My own suggestions to the Republicans begin with stop lying. Get back to the truth. If the truth doesn't serve you well politically, lose with dignity or honestly change your positions. Second, come out strong and hard against other Republicans spreading bizarre conspiratorial theories, instead of the light public wrist slapping with a wink. Quit funding pseudo think tanks to churn out papers supporting Republican positions using made-up numbers and fictional facts. Instead, use real numbers and real facts and adopt positions that will lead to real solutions of real problems facing our country. The rest will take care of itself.

The problem is in the White House no matter how many times Politico tries to blame Republicans.

The old head-in-the-sand ostrich approach to problems. Yes, that has worked very well for Republicans hasn't it? Like in their denial of honest polls in favor of their skewed polls. I think the ostrich is the appropriate mascot for the new radicalized Republican Party.

I agree, IRONDEM. They have had to make great use of the lie (in false numbers and 'facts') in concocting convincing rationalizations for redistributing our wealth to the richest while denying they are doing that.

#13 Roameo "" My own suggestions to the Republicans begin with stop lying. Get back to the truth. If the truth doesn't serve you well politically, lose with dignity or honestly change your positions. Second, come out strong and hard against other Republicans spreading bizarre conspiratorial theories, instead of the light public wrist slapping with a wink. Quit funding pseudo think tanks to churn out papers supporting Republican positions using made-up numbers and fictional facts. Instead, use real numbers and real facts and adopt positions that will lead to real solutions of real problems facing our country. The rest will take care of itself. "" =========================================================================================== Wow, I really admire your well intentioned advice, but do you really really think they are capable of doing any of these things? I think they will go with #15 and keep there head stuck in the sand. Just look at burnt brain, jingoistolly and the that idiot crosseyes and their posts. We can always wish tho.